AM I NEXT? IS THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL AT RED LOBSTER HOSPITALITY?

Orlando, Florida-based Red Lobster Hospitality, a casual seafood-oriented dining restaurant, appears to be in serious trouble and may be contemplating filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

According to media reports, the company has abruptly closed more than 50 restaurants throughout the United States and in some cases, engaged TAGeX Brands to auction restaurant equipment from more than 50 Red Lobster locations. The auction is somewhat unusual as "These auctions are 'winner takes all' -- meaning each winner will receive the ENTIRE contents of the Red Lobster location they bid on."

The number of employees impacted is in the hundreds, but the company is not responding to media requests for more information.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT TOAST

Boston, Massachusetts-based Toast, a cloud-based restaurant management software company providing an all-in-one point-of-sale system built on the Android operating system, has announced a restructuring intended to lower operating costs and a ten percent reduction in its workforce amid slowing demand for Toast’s tools for mobile ordering and payments.

The reduction in force will impact 550 employees.

Co-founder and CEO Aman Narang noted, "Our decisive actions to streamline operations and focus on core growth areas are reflected in our strong financial performance and the positive response from the market. We are committed to executing our restructuring plan efficiently to position Toast for long-term success."

According to an SEC filing, "On February 13, 2024, Toast’s Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan designed to promote overall operating expense efficiency, including a reduction in force that is expected to impact approximately 550 employees, as well as certain other actions to reorganize the Company’s facilities and operations. The Company expects to complete the Plan by the end of fiscal year 2024. As part of this Plan, the Company expects to incur restructuring and restructuring-related charges of approximately $45 to $55 million, primarily related to severance and severance-related costs and certain other costs related to facilities. Substantially all of these charges are expected to be incurred in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT CALIFORNIA'S PIZZA HUT FRANCHISES

Pizza Hut franchisees in California have announced the layoffs more than 1,200 in-house delivery drivers as the direct result of a new California law that increases fast-food worker's pay to $20 an hour in April 2024.

In 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom, at the behest of the unions, signed Assembly Bill 1228 into law, which mandated a minimum wage increase for fast-food workers to $20 an hour.

Plano, Texas-based Pizza Hut, owned by Yum Brands, declined comment on the actions of their franchisees.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?